Talk of the town

[Alan]

Hi,

In a response today Amy referred to President Bush as being the talk of the town. That set me thinking how many other expressions there are meaning roughly the same. For example: in the limelight - in the news - in the spotlight ... Any other suggestions?

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story In Order

[Tamara]

on everybody's lips
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It’s impossible to learn swimming without entering the water…

[Pamela]

In the focus of attention.

[Tamara]

to become the order of the day
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It’s impossible to learn swimming without entering the water…

[Yankee]

.
grist for the gossip mill
.

[Torsten]

Hi Amy,

I know the saying is grist for my mill but sometimes you also can find the expression grist through the mill. What is the difference?

Thanks in advance,
Torsten
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Test Of English for International Communication
TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary

[Eda:))]

... he is in the public eye...

[Yankee]

Hi Torsten

I'd understand "That's grist for my mill" to mean "That's something I can use to help me succeed."

I'd probably use "grist through the mill" with a verb like "move" or "send" to mean "to get a lot of work (or data) processed/done".

He is very effective when it comes to moving the grist through the bureaucratic mill.

Amy

[Torsten]

[Yankee]

Hi Torsten

You're right. The toast of the town is quite positive.

If you're the talk of the town, that just means there's a lot of tongue-wagging going on about someone. The topic would probably be negative.

Amy